QATAR: PERU TO FACE FRANCE IF….

South American nation Peru will face defending champions France at this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament on Qatari soil if they manage to scale through their inter-confederation playoff tie with the representatives from the Asian continent.

Peru have a lot of work to do if they are to join the other qualified teams at the World Cup tournament in Qatar later this year and they are yet to know their opponents in the inter-confederation playoffs. The Peruvians will take on either Australia or the United Arab Emirates (USA) depending on who qualifies when the two Asian teams meet in two months time. The winner will also face Peru in the same month of June.

The Peruvians had to fight their way to the inter-confederation playoffs after a keenly contested campaign in the South American region as far as the World Cup 2022 qualifying stage is concerned. Four teams qualified automatically for Qatar 2022 and they are Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador while Peru settled for fifth which was enough to secure a place in the inter-confederation playoffs. They were able to fend off Colombia for that fifth spot thanks to the 2-0 win at home to Paraguay in their final World Cup qualifiers in the South American region.

Peru have potentially being drawn in Group D of the Qatar 2022 World Cup alongside world champions France if they see off one of the United Arab Emirates or Australia. France became the reigning world champions when they saw off a spirited Croatia side to win the FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia four years. France ran out 4-2 winners to seal a second World Cup title with the likes of KylianMbappe, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann on the scoresheet.

The other teams in Group D apart from France are Denmark and Tunisia.